Robert McDermott | Pyrostar International
Meet Robert McDermott from Pyrostar International, Wellington-based fireworks specialists who have helped light up the city’s Lunar New Year celebrations since 2014. With deep respect for the traditions and symbolism of Lunar New Year, Pyrostar’s signature fireworks display bring thousands together on the waterfront in a shared moment of renewal, unity and joy. In 2026, their specially curated show will honour the Year of the Fire Horse, transforming the night sky into a powerful celebration of culture, connection and new beginnings.
The origins of fireworks trace back to the ancient legend of Nian, a fearsome creature said to emerge at the end of each year in China. Villagers discovered that loud noise, bright light, and fire drove the monster away. What began as burning bamboo to create explosive cracks eventually evolved into firecrackers and, later, the fireworks we know today.
How long have you been involved in the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival, and what ethnic community/culture do you associate yourself with
Pyrostar International based in Wellington has proudly supported the Wellington Lunar New Year Festival since 2014. Our work is deeply connected to the diverse cultures that celebrate the Lunar New Year. With 40 years’ experience in fireworks displays, our role is to help honour these communities by creating displays that reflect their traditions, symbolism, and storytelling.
For the 2026 festival, what is your role, and what traditions are you most excited to share with Wellingtonians this year
For the 2026 festival, Pyrostar International is once again responsible for designing and delivering the festival’s signature fireworks display - the moment that brings the entire waterfront together in celebration. We’re especially excited to showcase colour palettes and sequences inspired by Lunar New Year traditions: vibrant reds and golds symbolising luck and prosperity, rhythmic firing patterns echoing traditional firecrackers, and sky effects that honour themes of renewal, unity, and good fortune.
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many Asian cultures. How does your own cultural heritage shape the way you engage in the festival programme
As a New Zealand company, our cultural heritage is grounded in Aotearoa’s values of inclusivity, respect, and partnership. This perspective shapes the way we collaborate with Asian communities to ensure our displays reflect their cultural meaning with accuracy and care. We work closely with festival organisers to ensure every effect, from colour choices to management and delivery of the fireworks display, align with the traditions being celebrated.
Pyrostar has approached each display that we have delivered since 2014 with cultural respect and storytelling at its core. Fireworks help:
Celebrate the heritage of Wellington’s Asian communities.
Share the meaning behind Lunar New Year with the wider public.
Create a moment where thousands of people feel connected through light, colour, and sound.
For Pyrostar, fireworks are a bridge, a way to honour tradition while bringing communities together in a uniquely Aotearoa celebration.
What has been a standout or memorable moment for you from past festivals, and why does it continue to inspire your involvement
One standout moment was the first time we delivered the fireworks on Wellington’s waterfront in 2014. Seeing thousands of people from different cultures gather, families looking up at the sky, and children experiencing the magic of fireworks for the first time, captured the spirit of the festival. It continues to inspire us because it shows how powerful shared celebration can be, and how our craft can help bring communities come together.
Looking ahead to the 2026 celebrations, what is the one highlight you’d encourage people not to miss, and what do you hope it helps them understand about your culture and the wider Lunar New Year community in Wellington
The unmissable highlight will of course be the 2026 Lunar New Year Fireworks Display - a specially curated show to honour the Year of the Fire Horse. We hope it helps Wellingtonians appreciate the depth of symbolism behind Lunar New Year traditions and the pride that Asian communities bring to this celebration. For Pyrostar, this tradition is a reminder that fireworks are not just entertainment, they are a cultural symbol of protection, renewal, and the triumph of light over fear.
